Hola Familia,
I had the most incredible experience this last week
and we saw tons more miracles!!! :) I had wanted to be able to tell you
all about them but due to time I will only be able to write a bit.
We
started out the week without anyone that could be baptized. We made a
list of the people that had attended church and went by
every single one of them. To make a long story short: One of the first
families we stopped by answered the door saying, "why did you guys stop
coming by? We want to learn more and finally be baptized." Extremely
happy and surprised we were invited in and after the first lesson
everything was made concrete for Sunday. All week we passed by and they
were excitedly preparing for their baptism. What a special experience
it was in their baptism this last Sunday!
Saturday night we had another opportunity to find another person
that wanted to be baptized. We stopped by a recent convert's
house and found his 12 year old son there. We asked him for a couple of minutes
to share a message. He reluctantly came out and gave us a little of his
time. In the 15 minutes that we talked, he went from super distracted
and unconcerned to being SUPER excited about being baptized. While I
was trying to encourage him to be baptized, I remembered that he has had
problems with his dad after his mom passed away. I then started to
testify that the only way to be with his mother again was through being
baptized. When I said this his eyes lit up and he started interactively
asking questions. We ended the lesson and the next day he was
baptized. I was amazed at the miracle because we talked to him for the
first time Saturday, we talked with him 15 minutes, and the next day he
was baptized. If that isn´t a miracle, what is!!! :)
The Sisters had a rough week and called me the other night to tell
me about it. I sat there listening while they both started balling. Now
if there is anything I know really well about myself it is that I am happy
to listen but when it comes time to talk the words are hard to come
out. I have come to rely SO much on the Holy Ghost, and in this moment
the Holy Ghost filled my mouth with words that I hadn't even thought
before. After listening a long while, there came the pause in which the
Sisters were hoping for words of comfort. I opened my mouth and words
just came flowing out. I hardly remember what I said but the effect was
miraculous. They started working the hardest they have yet this
transfer. I could not be happier with how things worked out and am so
thankful for the help the Lord gave me in this moment. Elaine, I
thought you might think it would be funny to know that I thought about
you and the times we just talked and it gave me confidence to know what
to do. I love the opportunities I have as a missionary to be a literal
mouth piece for the Lord and for my investigators and district.
Well, Merry Christmas everyone! I will be Skype-ing the 24th
(Saturday) because I don't want to pay to do it on Sunday in an internet
cafe. I am so excited to see your faces and hear your voices!!! :)
However, I am not sure what time I will be able to be here to Skype. I
am thinking that it will be anywhere from 3-6 pm. I hope that everyone
in the family can be there to Skype!!! Oh, I will receive my Christmas package on Thursday!!! Thanks!!!
Love,
Elder Janis
